‘Factor’ bows first on Fox fall sked

Cowell franchise debuts Sept. 12

Fox will call on “The X Factor” to kickstart its fall season, with the music contest tapped to bow a couple of weeks before the traditional fall premiere week.

The network released the premiere dates of its 2012-13 sked Monday, lining up its sophomore unscripted franchise to launch the same week of rival singing-competition “The Voice” on NBC. “Factor” bows Sept. 12, two days after “Voice.”

Returning series “Glee” will bow Sept. 13 after the second night of “Factor,” which bowed during premiere week last season.

The early start for “Glee” means it will get four airings on its new night before being sidelined for a presidential debate on Oct. 11 and, later in the month, by postseason baseball.

New Monday drama “The Mob Doctor” will launch Sept. 17 after the season premiere of “Bones.”

New comedies “Ben and Kate” and “The Mindy Project” will get their start during fall premiere week, bookending the second-season preem of “New Girl” at 9 p.m. on Sept. 25. A second episode of “New Girl” will kick off the night at 8 to help launch “Ben,” but will be replaced the following week with the premiere of “Raising Hope.”

“Kitchen Nightmares” and “Fringe” launch on Sept. 27, with “Touch” staying on the shelf until Oct. 26, replacing “Nightmares.”

Fox’s animation lineup kicks in on Sept. 30, the first Sunday of the TV season, though “The Cleveland Show” won’t get its bow in the 7:30 p.m. slot until the following week, when the net doesn’t have the late-afternoon NFL doubleheader.

Slotting “Factor” the same week as “Voice” should keep a sense of rivalry going between the series, which Fox execs seemed to be playing up earlier this year after NBC announced “Voice” would get its first fall cycle.